Multi-million dollar playing fields under way at Glenella

by r33irby

Ross Irby
Reporter
Reporter Ross Irby has wander-lust mixed with a sense of adventure, spending way too many years roaming about Australia, its back roads and off-shore foreign lands.
Enjoys a yarn, story telling and tales, along with curiosity to find out about the lives and (mis)adventures of others.
An off-beat sense of humour, not taking it all too seriously, along with big doses of flexibility/adaptability whatever the situation is the best way to go.
You have to have the life experiences to have empathy...

THOUSANDS of young Mackay soccer enthusiasts like Amity Wood are counting down the days until their new multi-million dollar playing fields at Glenella host their first games.

Work on the fields is well under way and Amity, who plays for Wanderers under-9s, is keen to be out kicking the ball with the best.

Depending on the weather, the concrete pour for the new clubhouse should take place within 10 days.

Mackay and Regional Football Zone president Scott Mealy said work on the new fields, which will cover more than 12 hectares of former cane fields bordered by Glenella and Heaths Rds, was now about 50% completed.

When the fields and clubhouse are completed the project should give Mackay the best regional facilities in Queensland.

"It is definitely a growing sport in our region," he said.

"It is a great sport here, there are many factors why. It is a strong family orientated sport."

Four of his five children have now played the game and Mr Mealy said it was popular with families because parents could play.

The juniors full team draw was done at the start of every season so parents could plan their family's activities, he said.

New facilities had been a goal for more than 20 years. The Barbour Park fields near the airport had been in use since the 1960s.

The land is leased by Mackay Regional Council to the Mackay Football Association, which Mr Mealy said was a big commitment of valuable land, along with State and Federal monies including $1 million through NQ Bulk Ports.

Zone secretary Melinda Griffin said the game's popularity was reflected in the statistics.